MYOFASCIAL DECOMPRESSION (MFD)

WHAT IS MFD/DECOMPRESSION AND WHY DO WE USE IT?What are the benefits of Myofascial Decompression treatments? Decompression can be useful in the treatment of chronic overuse injuries such as bursitis, tendonitis, tendonosis, and other myofascial pain syndromes (low back, mid back, neck pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain etc.) ORS has several physical therapists on staff trained in MFD/Cupping treatments.

WATCH HOW IT’S DONE TO TREAT LEG ISSUES IN RUNNERS:

Myofascial Decompression (MFD), otherwise known as Cupping, is a form of soft tissue work where a pneumatic pump is used, along with plastic vacuum cups and placed on the skin to release the fascia and muscle tissue underneath. Cupping has been used in many traditional cultures for thousands of years, including ancient Chinese medicine, early Egyptians, Native Americans, and others. Ancient cultures used hollowed-out animal horns, bones, bamboo, nuts, seashells, gourds, or iron and glass to achieve desired results.

The traditional way of using decompression is following the meridian lines in the body. The cups are placed along these particular lines to cause change within the body (either in tissue or targeted to specific organs) by unblocking Qi. In contrast, Decompression (MFD) is built on these principles, but used specifically to treat the fascia and muscles following fascial lines across the body. Fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance to a spider's web or a sweater. It is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all our internal organs including heart, lunges, brain, and spinal cord. It is the 3D “glue” that holds everything together. MFD is used in conjunction with movement of the body or movement of the cups during treatment to effectively break down adhesions or scar tissue in the fascia.

Most manual therapy techniques utilized in physical therapy are compressive in nature (soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, joint mobilization, Graston Tecnhique), MFD works in the decompression of adhesions; reducing inhibitions of fluids and nutrient exchange. It is effective in decreasing stiffness and pain, improving tissue health and increasing mobility. It has been used to: